Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to reshape how we work, and the public transportation industry must be ready for what’s next.
At the 2026 APTA Workforce Summit, industry leaders, managers, and labor partners will come together to explore AI-driven strategies and tools that support transportation operations, rapidly changing technology, workforce planning, HR solutions, and more.
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM MST
|
|
|
2026052015:3016:00 000 | WED, MAY 20 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
Thursday, May 21, 2026
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM MST
|
WS: Workforce Hot Topics (concurrent with Stadler Tour)
Workforce Hot Topics Ignite
SPARK LA Middle School Program HNTB collaboration to inspire youth to pursue careers in S.T.E.M. in public sector
Frontline Mentorship and Apprenticeship Programs ATU’s joint labor management mentorship, apprenticeship, and training programs help to develop the skills frontline staff need to succeed in an AI future
Psychological Safety: A Transportation Cooperative Research Program Report
AI Meets Safety: Practical insights to prepare for a future where people remain at the center of every decision that matters
Recruiting for the Future: Culture, Belonging, and the New Transit Workforce
Understanding Operator Availability: A case study in predicting operator registrations and absenteeism for better operations scheduling
Resilience You Can Measure: Using Workforce Intelligence to Strengthen Governance and Readiness
T-FORCE Ready: Building a Highly Skilled Transit Workforce to Operate and Maintain Advanced, Sustainable Vehicle Technologies
Human-Centered and AI-Enabled: Solving the Interoperability Crisis in Transit Workforce Development Micro-Practices to Focus Attention: Tools to Reduce Distractions and Prevent Incidents Speaker(s): Moderator: Geisha Ester, Chair, APTA Education and Career Awareness Subcommittee; and Executive Director National Transit Institute (NTI), National Transit Institute (NTI) Panelist: Korrie Mapp, Director, Operational Safety & Health, Regional Transit Authority (RTA New Orleans) Panelist: Darwin Griffin, Safety Specialist I, Regional Transit Authority (RTA New Orleans) Panelist: Teri Fisher, CEO & Managing Partner, Insight Strategies, Inc. Panelist: Kristi Urich, Director, Product Management - Workforce Management, Trapeze Group Panelist: James Hall, Principal and Founder, Zeb Tech, LLC Panelist: Ron Thiele, President, Xpan Interactive Ltd. Panelist: Lilly Acuna, External Engagement Manager, HNTB Corporation Panelist: Jamaine Gibson, Director Mentorships and Apprenticeships, ATU Mentorship and Apprenticeship Team Panelist: Michael Coplen, President and Founder, TrueSafety Evaluation, LLC Panelist: Steve Jovel, VTA, Operations Manager, Workforce Development and First Vice Chair, APTA Education and Career Awareness, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Panelist: Erik Hansen, CEO, SouthWest Transit Panelist: Shanta Hejmadi, Principal Data Scientist, Office of Performance Metro Transit Panelist: Jamaal Schoby, Senior Program Officer, Transportation Research Board
|
|
2026052113:0016:00 000 | THU, MAY 21 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
Thursday, May 21, 2026
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM MST
|
|
|
2026052110:0010:30 000 | THU, MAY 21 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM MST
|
|
|
2026052011:3013:00 000 | WED, MAY 20 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
Thursday, May 21, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM MST
|
WS: National Workforce Strategies: Tools to Become an Employer of Choice
Public transportation faces unprecedented workforce opportunities. As AI becomes a tool that other industries use to compete, public transportation is currently not leveraging AI as a resource to assist with worker shortages, new competition for skilled talent, or employee work-life balance expectations. In a rapidly changing labor market can workforce staffing predictions, leadership techniques, data analysis, or recruitment models help the transportation industry attract and retain top talent?
Speaker(s): Moderator: Yvonne Lopez-Diaz, Senior Vice President, National Workforce Strategist, HNTB Corporation Panelist: Dr. Carol Parker Walsh, CEO/Founder, Carol Parker Walsh Consulting Group Panelist: Mersida Ibric, Chief People Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Panelist: Cris Kibbee, Chief Information Officer, MV Transportation Panelist: Renee Tarrant, Global Account Sales Manager, Language Testing International
|
|
2026052110:3012:00 000 | THU, MAY 21 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM MST
|
WS: FTA Updates: What’s Next for Workforce
Speaker(s): Speaker: Edwin Rodriguez, Director for the Office of Research Management, Innovation, and Outreach, Federal Transit Administration
|
|
2026052013:4514:00 000 | WED, MAY 20 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
Thursday, May 21, 2026
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM MST
|
WS: Stadler Facility Tour & Apprenticeship Partners, Strategy, and Q&A
Stadler’s 3-year apprenticeship program (TRAC) has multiple partners and a state-of-the-art facility to support success. The TRAC program includes hands-on experience, onsite training for electrical and mechanical careers, and the school district and state support for students to complete high school and obtain a debt-free associate’s degree.
Tour requires - wear comfortable closed toe shoes and be prepared for a walk. If needed, PPE will be provided for this ADA accessible tour. Space is limited and registration is required. REGISTER FOR TOUR Capacity Limit: 40 participants Speaker(s): Speaker: Lucy Andre, Chief Executive Officer, Stadler US Inc.
|
|
2026052113:0016:00 202 | THU, MAY 21 |
898C52F5-0427-F111-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
Thursday, May 21, 2026
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM MST
|
|
|
2026052112:0012:30 000 | THU, MAY 21 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM MST
|
WS: AI Technology Governance & Strategies: A Transportation Industry Template for Agility
Artificial intelligence (AI) and technology are rapidly reshaping the way we work. Transportation organizations face increasing pressure to innovate while maintaining safety, compliance, and public trust. Transportation leaders need to design and implement effective AI governance frameworks that balance speed with responsibility. Let’s explore new templates while reviewing the model organizations currently use to reshape and guide industry progress.
Speaker(s): Moderator: Derik Calhoun, Chief Transportation Officer, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Panelist: Ethan Benatan, Chief Information Officer, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) Panelist: Steven Schrayer, AICP, Senior Transportation Planner & Data Scientist, Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning Inc. Panelist: Manjit Sooch, Chair, APTA Innovation Peer Exchange and Data Governance Subcommittee; and Director of Innovation and Technology, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District)
|
|
2026052016:0017:30 000 | WED, MAY 20 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM MST
|
WS: Workforce Development Committee Meeting
Speaker(s): Facilitator: LaShanda R. Dawkins, Chair, APTA Workforce Development Committee; and Chief Administrative Officer, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA
|
|
2026052010:0011:30 000 | WED, MAY 20 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 8BBA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
Thursday, May 21, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM MST
|
|
|
2026052108:0009:00 000 | THU, MAY 21 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM MST
|
|
|
2026052009:0016:00 000 | WED, MAY 20 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
Thursday, May 21, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM MST
|
WS: Childcare: A Smart Workforce Strategy
TOOTRiS is the creation of a tech leader and working mom. This turn-key solution empowers organizations with a platform that provides employees access to trusted, around-the-clock childcare. This is the workforce strategy that helps staff stay focused, engaged, and on the job.
Speaker(s): Moderator: LaShanda R. Dawkins, Chair, APTA Workforce Development Committee; and Chief Administrative Officer, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA Panelist: Alessandra Lezama, Founder and CEO, TOOTRiS
|
|
2026052109:0010:00 000 | THU, MAY 21 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
1:00 PM - 1:15 PM MST
|
WS: Opening Ceremony
Speaker(s): President's Welcome: Paul Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association
|
|
2026052013:0013:15 000 | WED, MAY 20 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM MST
|
WS: CEO & President’s Roundtable: AI, AV, & Technology in Operations
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming public transportation. It is being used to enhance service planning, improve maintenance forecasting, elevate the customer experience, and enable cutting-edge autonomous vehicle (AV) pilot programs. Transportation organizations are no longer just exploring AI and AV possibilities; they are actively moving from vision to implementation. As agencies work to build smarter, more agile transportation networks, the focus is on practical strategies, lessons learned, and the road ahead to adopt, advance, and scale innovative technology solutions. Speaker(s): Moderator: Tiffany J. Gunter, General Manager, Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) Panelist: Erik Hansen, CEO, SouthWest Transit Panelist: Nathaniel Ford, Chief Executive Officer, Jacksonville Transportation Authority
|
|
2026052014:0015:30 000 | WED, MAY 20 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |
||
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM MST
|
WS: Keynote Session
Speaker(s): Keynote Speaker: Carlos Braceras, Executive Director, Utah Department of Transportation
|
|
2026052013:1513:45 000 | WED, MAY 20 |
89BA91E2-36BB-F011-8105-ED7CCB3A2628 |